8 Tennessee political stories that shaped 2017 and beyond

An overview of the candidates who have launched a campaign for governor.
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Next year in Tennessee, every state representative is up for re-election, U.S. Sen. Bob Corker isn't running again, and seven top-tier candidates are vying to be the next governor.(Photo: Larry McCormack / The Tennessean)

Every state representative is up for re-election, U.S. Sen. Bob Corker isn't running again, and seven top-tier candidates are vying to be Tennessee’s next governor.

But with a gas tax, free college, a presidential visit and the prelude to a flurry of open seats, 2017 set the stage. Here’s a quick look back at the some of the top political stories that grabbed attention this year.

The IMPROVE Act

No political action affected the state more this year than the passage of the IMPROVE Act, Gov. Bill Haslam’s signature legislation to address a $10 billion backlog in road projects.

The measure, which will eventually raise the tax on gasoline by 6 cents per gallon and the levy on diesel by 10 cents, was not without its critics.

Haslam and Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner John Schroer crossed the state pitching the plan, while many staunchly opposed raising the state’s gas taxes for the first time in 30 years.

But with several tax cuts, including reducing the sales tax on groceries and slashing the Hall tax on investment income, the House and Senate passed the bill April 19.

Tennessee Reconnect

If the IMPROVE Act is Haslam’s big initiative of 2017, Tennessee Reconnect may be the final polish on the crown jewel of his administration’s agenda in recent years — expanding access to the state's community and technical colleges.

Tennessee Promise allowed every graduating senior to attend two years of higher education courses tuition free. Tennessee Reconnect expanded the opportunity to adults who have completed high school or obtained a GED.

This opened up enormous opportunity for Tennessee residents across the state and established the Volunteer State as a national leader in providing free college.

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Nashville’s transit plan

The IMPROVE Act is expected to bring more money into state coffers to address backlogged road projects. But it also gave the option for a local referendum to raise money for mass transit.

Nashville Mayor Megan Barry is seeking to take advantage. In October, Barry proposed an ambitious $5.4 billion mass transit plan that includes 26 miles of new light rail, a more robust bus service and a major tunnel below downtown.

But to pay for the plan, Barry needs the support of voters and announced a plan for a referendum that would raise four taxes, including the sales tax. If the Metro Council supports the plan, as is expected, the issue will go to voters in May.

Donald Trump and Bob Corker continue public battle: A timeline of the escalating fight
video by Michael Schwab/Tennessean

That was until things deteriorated rapidly. In October, Corker said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Chief of Staff John Kelly separate the country from chaos. Then, Trump said on Twitter that Corker “begged” him for a re-election endorsement. Corker responded by calling the White House an “adult day care.”

Corker’s decision not to run

With Haslam’s second term coming to an end in 2018, many expected the governor’s race to be next year's big political story.

But then Corker, the powerful chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, announced in September that he would not seek a third term, saying he could offer his “most important public service” in the following months.

This announcement took the political landscape by storm, adding another race to watch next year. Then, after U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn and former U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher jumped in to seek the GOP nomination, former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen entered the campaign.

Bredesen remains popular in the state, and his entrance into the race gives national Democrats hope that they could pick up a seat and regain control of the U.S. Senate.

An expensive governor's race

When seven top-tier, well-funded candidates entered the race to be Tennessee’s next governor, it was obvious the race would grab a lot of attention in 2018.

But when several of the candidates started ramping up their campaigns early in 2017, it became evident that the 2018 campaign would be expensive, perhaps the most expensive ever.

By July, the candidates in the race had raised about $8 million. Middle Tennessee State University political science professor Kent Syler estimates the tally could hit $35 million to $40 million.

The Republican candidates running include U.S. Rep. Diane Black, House Speaker Beth Harwell, Knoxville businessman and former economic development commissioner Randy Boyd, Williamson County businessman Bill Lee and former state Sen. Mae Beavers. On the Democratic side, former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh are seeking their party's nomination.

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Lt. Governor and Speaker of the Senate Randy McNally, left, hugs Speaker of the House Beth Harwell during Sen. Douglas Henry’s visitation at the Tennessee State Capitol Legislative Library on Thursday, March 9, 2017. Shelley Mays/The Tennessean

Lt. Governor and Speaker of the Senate Randy McNally, left, hugs Speaker of the House Beth Harwell as former Speaker of the House Jimmy Naifeh stands by during Sen. Douglas Henry’s visitation atthe Tennessee State CapitolLegislative Library on Thursday, March 9, 2017. Shelley Mays/The Tennessean

Lt. Governor and Speaker of the Senate Randy McNally, left, Speaker of the House Beth Harwell,middle, and former Speaker of the House Jimmy Naifeh pay their respects to Sen. Douglas Henry during his visitation at the Tennessee State Capitol Legislative Library on Thursday, March 9, 2017. Shelley Mays/The Tennessean

Chief Clerk of the Senate Russell Humphrey pays his respects to Sen. Douglas Henry in the Tennessee State Capitol Legislative Library where Sen. Henry’s visitation was held on Thursday, March 9, 2017. Shelley Mays

Former Tenn. Senator Roy Herron, left, hugs Irene Ward, who was Sen. Douglas Henry’s administrative assistant for many years, during Henry’s visitation at the Tennessee State Capitol Legislative Library on Thursday, March 9, 2017. Shelley Mays

People offer their condolences to Margaret Henry Joyce, sister of Sen. Douglas Henry, during her brother’s visitation at the Tennessee State Capitol Legislative Library on Thursday, March 9, 2017. Shelley Mays

Sen. Douglas Henry’s old senate desk is draped in black cloth at the Tennessee State Capitol where his visitation was held in Legislative Library on Thursday, March 9, 2017. Henry was the longest-serving member in the history of the Tennessee legislature. He died late Sunday evening. Shelley Mays

In a Vanderbilt University poll, 72 percent of respondents said they approve of Nashville Mayor Megan Barry’s handling of her job, compared with 16 percent who said they disapprove. Shelley Mays / File / The Tennessean

A member of the Tennessee Highway Patrol Honor Guard stand guard next to Sen. Douglas Henry’s body during his visitation at the Tennessee State Capitol Legislative Library on Thursday, March 9, 2017. Shelley Mays/The Tennessean

Chief Clerk of the Senate Russell Humphrey arranges state flags in the Tennessee State Capitol Legislative Library where Sen. Henry’s visitation was held on Thursday, March 9, 2017. Shelley Mays/The Tennessean

The death of Douglas Henry

Former state Sen. Douglas Henry died in March at the age of 90. He was the state’s longest-serving member of the Tennessee legislature in state history and he was regarded on both sides of the aisle as a statesman, but also a gentleman who personified ethical behavior.

He was the first person to lie in state in the Capitol since 1927. During a time when politics can divide the country and state, Henry’s death shined a light on a person and not a party.

Reach Jordan Buie at jbuie@tennessean.com or 615-726-5970 and on Twitter @jordanbuie.